Press release
For Immediate Release
Sept. 9, 2013
Contact: Dave Kumlien, dkumlien@tu.org
406.570.0023
2013 Utah Single-Fly winner: the Green River
Trout Unlimited fishing tournament benefits conservation projects
(Dutch John, UT) Its a trout anglers dream challenge: One fly. One legendary river. One full day of fishing.
Trout Unlimited held its fifth annual Utah Single Fly tournament Aug. 26-27, with nine four-man teams (and 18 volunteer guides) testing their fishing skills while benefiting river conservation on the fabled Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Utah-Wyoming border.
The basic rules are simple: Each angler gets to choose one fly for the day. You lose ityoure done. Each team is scored on how many trout they catch and release, with additional points for two measured fish and bonus points for big trout over 20 inches.
There are high-stakes fishing tournaments that take themselves seriouslythe Utah One Fly isnt one of them.
This is about camaraderie, good fishing and good times, said Dave Kumlien, director of TUs Aquatic Invasive Species Program and organizer of the event. And its about supporting conservation work in Utah that ensures healthy fisheries.
The Green River, participants agreed, is a spectacular place to fish, with pristine, crystal-clear water and healthy browns and rainbows.
Protecting these special places is what the Utah Single Fly is all about. The event benefits TU programs in Utah, including TUs Utah Water Project, which has several field staff working in the Green basin on everything from habitat improvement projects on key tributaries of the Green to campaigns to stop the Million pipeline. The latter would suck water from the Flaming Gorge region and send it 500 miles to Colorados Front Range. The Million boondoggle is a nonstarter among anglers and anyone who cares about preserving this amazing fishery. The event also benefits TUs Aquatic Invasive Species program, which works to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, from didymo to whirling disease.
At the end of the day, everyone had a great time, judging by the laughter and stories at Tuesday evenings awards banquet. Dave Kumlien gave a special shout-out to the Green River Outfitters and Guides Association and the 18 guides who volunteered their time to make the event happen. We couldnt do it without them, he noted.
Want to have a float trip of a lifetime and benefit trout conservation at the same time? Mark your calendar for the 2014 Utah Single Fly, scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19. For more information, check out event details on TUs website or contact Dave Kumlien at dkumlien@tu.org.
2013 Utah Single Fly Results:
Among the award highlights: The First Place Team was Cache Anglers (Paul Holden, Gary Hillyard, Guy Jardine and Bryan Smith) with 176 combined points. They were guided by David Peters and David Schneider.
John Willis of Team TU received the award for Largest Trout, a big 21 brown. Paul Holden of Cache Anglers received the Most Trout award, bringing 17 trout to the net.
The Most Unique Outfit was a shoo-in with the Wee Lads team and their Scottish kilts.
Matt Hyde nabbed the Bird Dog award (best fly save) for diving in to retrieve his fly, which was wrapped around a cable across the river near the put-in point.
Calvin Hazlewood of WY TU Bucking Fish team secured the honor of Biggest Loser by losing his fly earlier than anyone, at 12:01 p.m.
The Bomar Tipton Award (for the guide with the most points for his boat) went to Darin Bowcutt of Team TU, who guided Steve Trafton and John Willis to a top score of 99 points on Section B.
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Trout Unlimited is the nations largest coldwater conservation organization, with 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North Americas trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. www.tu.org